Citation Guides/a Statute

How to Cite a Statute in Bluebook Format

Master Bluebook citation format for federal and state statutes, including the United States Code (U.S.C.), state codes, and session laws. Covers title numbers, section symbols, and date parentheticals.

Citation Format

[Title] U.S.C. § [Section] ([Year]).

Citation Components

Title Number

The title of the United States Code under which the section is codified. Federal statutes are organized into 54 titles by subject matter.

Example: 42

Code Abbreviation

The abbreviated name of the code. For federal statutes, use U.S.C. (official code). Avoid U.S.C.A. and U.S.C.S. in academic citation unless the provision appears only there.

Example: U.S.C.

Section Symbol (§)

Always use the section symbol, not the word 'Section.' Use '§§' for multiple sections. Insert a space between the symbol and the number.

Example: § 1983

Year Parenthetical

The year of the code edition cited, in parentheses. For U.S.C., this is the year of the most recent edition or supplement. Include the publisher for unofficial codes.

Example: (2018)

Examples

Federal statute (Section 1983)

42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2018).

Federal statute with popular name

Clean Air Act § 111, 42 U.S.C. § 7411 (2018).

Multiple sections of the same title

28 U.S.C. §§ 1331-1332 (2018).

State statute (California)

Cal. Penal Code § 187(a) (West 2024).

State statute (New York)

N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 349 (McKinney 2023).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using 'Section' or 'Sec.' instead of the § symbol -- always use the symbol in citation form
Omitting the space between § and the section number -- it should be '§ 1983' not '§1983'
Citing the unofficial code (U.S.C.A. or U.S.C.S.) when the provision is in the official U.S.C.
Forgetting the date parenthetical entirely -- the year of the code edition is required
Failing to include the publisher name when citing state statutory compilations (e.g., West, LexisNexis, McKinney)

Tips for Getting It Right

When a statute has a well-known popular name (e.g., the Clean Air Act), you may include it before the code citation for clarity
For state statutes, always check Bluebook Table T1 for the correct abbreviation and format for that state's code
Use '§§' (double section symbol) only when citing a range or multiple sections in a single citation
The year in parentheses is the publication year of the code volume, not the year the statute was enacted
When citing a statute that has been amended, cite the current version unless the historical version is relevant to your analysis